I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Sorry, this movie sucks

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

What made this so great is it was made by a musician. Dave gets it. This had a perfect balance of music, technology, personalities, and performances. It could have morphed too much on the magic of the sound board, but it did not. It could have morphed on the early years, but it did not. It brought the complete history together.I dig how Dave gave the core SC personalities equal time. Only someone who listens would allow the "gals" who worked at SC to get their due. They played a HUGE part of those sessions. It did not get tangential. It served its purpose with feel...and in the end, that is what made SC so magical...it was the feel.I am stunned how in the name of progress the magic was lost with technology and a new sound emerged. In my estimate, this was the regression of music, not progression. Music must be captured by technology and that is in performance...let the tape capture the story. The story is NOT the technology.Ending this with Paul must have been a mind-blow for Dave and the boys. McCartney looked and acted like he was 30ish. How does that happen? He was so comfortable being PM. The cat is smooth as glass and so fresh and alive. Crazy-weird experience playing and making music with your idol...and knowing he is cooler than you thought! A rare experience of meeting your hero and NOT being disappointed. Thanks Dave...seriously, this was really great...and I grew up right around the corner from this place during the magical years. Who knew?

There's people that prefer the drafting board to computers, prefer a typewriter to word-processing software, prefer film to digital cameras, etc. The list is extensive and the people on it are usually dismissed and eventually forgotten as technology moves forward. CGI creates better special effects; digital images can be deleted without wasting film; and Computer Aided Drafting and Manufacturing creates better, more accurate products. However, the case for analog over digital methods in music continues to be made. Musicologist Dave Grohl brings this debate to the court of public opinion in "Sound City." Called to the witness stand is a variety of fellow artists from the 60's to present which includes Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Neil Young, John Fogerty, Barry Manilow, Rick Springfield, et al. All these participants not only testify to their in experience with the studio but on the influences and differences of digital over analog methods on music culture. It's made apparent early on that this documentary is more than just a "day in the life" of musicians and how they created the art we enjoy as Dave later affirms: "It all started with this idea that I wanted to tell the story of the board. The conversation became something much bigger. Like . . . in this age of technology, where you simulate or manipulate anything, how do we retain that human element . . .? How do we keep music to sound like people? That feeling that I got when I was young, Oh, I could that too." And so the case is made that it's the analog imperfections that retains the human quality much like hand-made furniture as compared to the mass produced. But the film is not a total dis on technology. It's stated quite clearly that it was the "Neve" sound board that much homage is paid to including an interview with sound engineer Rupert Neve himself. For although this was the pinnacle of technology, it was still analog technology. As the film's humble narrator/producer conducts a multi leveled journey spanning many decades of music, digital methods continued to penetrate the music culture. In all these examples there are those who reject it, those who embrace it, and those who find a middle ground for old and new technologies to coexist in their vocation. Some prefer a set of drums and others use an electronic drum machine. Eventually, Sound City couldn't compete with the digital world where artists steadily became more like computer music "file makers" rather than instrument trained musicians. Through many examples we are shown that in music, in spite of the advances in recording and producing technology, many musicians can preserve the "human" quality with state of the art "analog" technologies. Come to think of it, one of my favorite composers "Vangelis" uses a variety of electronic and digital methods. But he's still very much in charge of the mood his music inspires. This quality would probably be lost if he just programmed a computer to play his compositions. Dave never forgot where he came from. This was the impetus for making this film and the reason for preserving the Neve board which now resides in his private studio. He waxes some heavy philosophy but never comes off preachy which could easily turn this movie into a "vanity project." In fact he comes off very altruistic with his many homages to the staff and studio where he cut his first album with Nirvana. And to top it off is Jam sessions including many of the artists who were interviewed throughout the feature.

Dave Grohl directed and wrote this documentary. You know, he is the guy that is always playing at least two songs in the best ever list of songs, one with Nirvana and the other with Foo Fighters. And this is a film about Sound City, the legendary sound studio that gave life to so many great bands and albums, including Nirvana, Rage Against the Machines, Nine Inch Nails, Fleetwood Mac, and so on.What starts like a smelly place that nobody cleans but has great acoustics goes through a series of transformations through various crises, the most important one being the advent of digital technology, which also meant its death. But there are so many good musicians that jammed there, rose to stardom there, that Grohl is trying to recreate the feeling and asks those musicians to join him in remembering it all.I know you will hate me for this, but what I liked even more than the love of music that transpires throughout the entire film is the fact that it all started with the Neve board, a sound board created by a very precise British engineer called Rupert Neve. The guy was probably very creative himself, but people describe him as precise. And British. He enabled through science and engineering scores of musical generations.Anyway, sometimes the film is a bit slow, especially at the beginning, where the history of the studio and of the people there is laid out. But then it all is worth it at the end, where you get to see all these old musicians coming to record with Foo Fighters using the reconditioned Neve board, recording everything on 2 inch tape.Bottom line: they kind of repeat a lot that music is something human and must be done in a group to enhance pleasure and creativity, but it's not too annoying. This is a great movie nonetheless. If you like music, you will love this film. If you don't like music, I still think you are going to love it.

I am an enormous fan of music and devour all things related, even if not the style of music I enjoy. Having said that I was unsure I would like this movie as I am generally not a fan of Nirvana or Foo Fighters. While working late on a data migration project and watching validations occur each 5-minutes I went to Amazon and looked for movies. This was never top on my list but I am happy I watched it. The history and musical weight behind this project was astounding and well worth a viewing. I will watch it again and again. The history, talent, music and sheer joy shown by those in the film are worth the 1.5-hours invested. The artists who appeared in the film (not light-weights but heavy hitters) showed great respect for Sun City and the art produced there. If you are even a tangential fan of music this is appointment viewing. Dave G put together a compelling and historical piece with great respect and reverence. I went out and found some great recordings as a result and walked away with new respect for Dave and the passion he and others truly have for the craft that has allowed them to make a living. Well done, sir.